Hi, I'm Ian 👋, a photographer based in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England, available for photography services across the surrounding areas.
I was given my first camera when I was seven and have been taking photographs ever since.
While at university, I carried a camera with me almost everywhere – a Pentax Spotmatic F – and took thousands of lifestyle photographs of fellow students. It was excellent training in capturing people naturally and anticipating those fleeting moments. In reality, I don't believe there is just one “decisive moment” – there are many!
After a career in science, I returned to photography and invested heavily in professional training. By learning from some of the most respected photographers in the industry, I was able to develop my skills while avoiding years of trial and error. I have since gained professional qualifications including LSWPP and LSIFGP.
Although my first love remains capturing people behaving naturally, I have also developed a strong reputation for creative lighting, particularly for portraiture and dramatic imagery.
I love meeting new clients and deliberately keep my photography eclectic because I enjoy the variety that different people, projects, and photographic challenges bring.
I am also a volunteer photographer for the charity Remember My Baby.
Every shoot I undertake is bespoke and designed around the individual client. I pride myself on taking the time to understand what you actually want to achieve and then delivering the best possible photography experience and results.
If you're not sure what you want yet, don't worry – most people don't have a clear idea when they first get in touch. My role is to help you understand the options available, from different photographic styles and approaches to the finished products you can take home.
Your booking fee includes a pre-shoot consultation. This will usually take place at my studio, although it can also be arranged by telephone or email if that's more convenient. We can sit down together, have a coffee, discuss your ideas, and look through photographs that inspire you.
I'll then use everything we've discussed to plan your shoot specifically around you. While a pre-shoot consultation isn't compulsory, I strongly recommend taking advantage of it as it allows me to prepare the session properly and make the most of your time in front of the camera.
I rarely photograph more than one client or project in a day, allowing plenty of time for each shoot. The time required depends on the complexity of the session, the location, and what we want to achieve.
For example, if you're short on time and simply need professional business headshots, you could be in and out of the studio in around 30–40 minutes, provided we've discussed your requirements beforehand so everything can be prepared in advance.
At the other end of the scale, a “special experience” photo shoot involving a professional make-up artist and hair stylist can take several hours. Model experience and fantasy shoots are particularly suited to clients looking for something creative, different, and memorable.
For those wanting to take things even further, a full body-painting photo shoot can take an entire working day, with the body painting alone taking around four hours.
If you're unsure how much time your particular shoot will require, please get in touch. Once I know what you'd like to achieve, I can give you a much better idea of how long your session is likely to take.
